Virgin and Child with Two Angels (detail) 1478

This detail from Andrea del Verrocchio's "Virgin and Child with Two Angels" (1478), housed in the National Gallery, London, showcases the artist's mastery of realism and emotional expression. The angel's delicate features, with their subtle shading and lifelike gaze, stand in contrast to the youthful charm of the child. The drapery, rendered with meticulous detail, adds depth and texture to the composition, emphasizing the figures' graceful postures. Verrocchio's work exemplifies the transition from the Early Renaissance to the High Renaissance, characterized by a focus on naturalistic representation and refined composition.